New "best in class" player for experience optimization: epoq joins AB Tasty

Ettlingen, October 5, 2022 – AB Tasty, the fast-growing global experience optimization company, acquires epoq internet services, the software provider and expert in AI-powered 1:1 personalization in e-commerce. The acquisition accelerates the shared vision of both companies to empower digital teams to create relevant and engaging shopping experiences throughout the customer journey using an optimization platform.

AB Tasty's acquisition of epoq creates a new best-in-class offering for relevant customer experiences

“The epoq team is the perfect complement to AB Tasty’s business, bringing its expertise, knowledge, and sophisticated products to the table. We are very excited about this new era, in which we will work together to create added value for our customers. In the future, we will also be able to provide them with unparalleled recommendation and search functions," says Alix de Sagazan, CEO and co-founder of AB Tasty.

Since 2003, epoq has been developing customized e-commerce solutions for every part of the customer journey: from product research to selection and purchase intent to customer loyalty. This decades-long expertise is a real advantage in light of digital acceleration and the increasing demands for a unique customer experience.

"This is a great opportunity for epoq to increase added value along the customer journey for e-commerce companies. Not only in Germany, but on a global level," says Thorsten Mühling, CEO and co-founder of epoq and now Managing Director DACH and VP epoq at AB Tasty. He is now also the third-largest private shareholder in AB Tasty.

epoq's AI-powered recommendation engine enables brands to present each customer with the most relevant products or personalized content by analyzing user click and purchase behavior using a robust library of algorithms (such as "favorite brands, categories, and attributes," "product bundles and sets," and "most relevant blog articles and banners"). With intelligent search, digital teams can offer consumers a targeted customer journey and ensure that they find the product they want directly.

Perfect match creates a 1:1 personalized experience

"The combination of AB Tasty and epoq creates a 1:1 personalized experience for users at every point of the customer journey—and helps digital commerce teams deliver that elusive 'wow' experience," says Thorsten Mühling.

Together, these tools complement the existing product ranges of both companies. AB Tasty offers client-side and server-side experimentation and personalization solutions. The platform enables marketing, product, and technical teams to easily validate their ideas, as well as conversions across multiple digital channels.

"The pandemic has triggered an e-commerce boom, with more than half of transactions coming from search queries and a third from recommendations," says Rémi Aubert, CEO and co-founder of AB Tasty.

"Users of e-commerce website search bars expect the same level of precision as Google Search. This is a challenge for digital teams to remain competitive. By connecting the two platforms, we not only make life easier for our customers, but also accelerate the delivery of tailored experiences—and thus increase profitability," says Rémi Aubert.

AB Tasty as a global player

This is AB Tasty's first acquisition. Together with epoq, it creates the first company in this segment to offer a consolidated approach to experience optimization with experiments, personalization, feature management, recommendations, and intelligent search.

The acquisition will also significantly expand AB Tasty's existing customer base, headcount, and product portfolio. With the addition of epoq to AB Tasty's extensive global ecosystem, the Paris-based company now has over 1,100 customers and 320 employees worldwide, with 13 offices in key markets such as France, Germany, the UK, the US, and the APAC region.

The announcement follows AB Tasty's $40 million Series C funding round. Over the past two years, AB Tasty has seen 200 percent international growth and added global brands such as Kering, McDonald's, and Ulta Beauty to its client list, which already includes brands such as L'Oreal, Disneyland Paris, and LVMH.

Meanwhile, the server-side solution Flagship has been ranked as a leader in "The Forrester New Wave™: Feature Management and Experimentation" and received an award.